Method of and apparatus for hydraulic prospecting



Sept. 22, 1931. E. A. ADLER 1,823,965

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPECTING Original Filed June25. 1929 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 1 a Wm an mum 1 I v w M. l.

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Sept. 22, 1931. E. A; AD-L R 1,823,965

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPECTING Original Filed June25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Edward A.AdLer',

jj i i d HLZ Attorne Patented Sept. 22, 1931 EDWARD A. ADLER, OISCHENEGIADY, NEW YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PROSPEGIINGApplication filed June 25, 1929, Serial No. 378,522. Renewed larch '6,1931.

This invention relates to hydraulics, and more particularly to theperformance of operations beneath the surface of hydraulic bodies.

In. the past sub-surface operations have been carried out mainlyby theseveral methods of diving. Although the me hod of diving is entirelyoperative, it entails the serious disadvantage, that even atcomparatively moderate depths, the person of the diver is subjec'led toenormous pressures and chilling temperatures which decrease theefliciency of his activities, limit the period for which he may remainbeneath the surface, and very often result in serious permanent injuryto his health.

Accordingly, an object of this inven.ion

- is the'provisionof a sim le, reliable and cffective method for proviing communication between the surface and points beneath the surface ofan hydraulic body, in which persons engaged in operations beneath thesurface will not be subjected to hydraulic pressures, together with areliable and efiicient form of apparatus for carrying this method intoeffect.

In illustrating my invention in one form thereof, I have shown it asembodied in an apparatus particularly adapted for providing access fromthe surface of the sea to a sunken submarine.

In carrying my invention into effect in one form thereof, I cause anopen ended tubular enclosing wall to be "secured in position extendingfrom the surface to the point beneath the surface where operations areto be carried on, and then cause the liquid within the enclosing wall tobe rotated at a speed sufficient to cause a vortex to be formed therein,affording communication from the surface to the point of operations.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, referenceshould now be made to the following specification and to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a. view in elevation, partly insection, of a form of apparatus suitable for carrying my method intoeffect; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section of a part of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, a barge 10 is provided with a centrallydisposed opening formed therein by the cylindrical wall 11. As shown,the opening extends entirely through the barge, and is of a sizesuflicient to permit the sections of tubing 12 to be lowered into thewater beneath the barge.

In order that the tubular enclosing wall 12 may remain in an upright orvertical position substantially unaffected by the roll or pitch of thebarge 10, the enclosing wall 12 1s universally supported with respect tothe barge 10 in the the annular rings 13, 13a and 136. As shown the ring136 is provided with a flange which is secured to the barge, and ring13a is pivoted with respect to ring 136 to permit of its rotation abouta horizontal axis, whilst ring 13 is pivoted with respect to ring 1311to permit of rotation of ring 13 about a transverse horizontal axis.

' The tubular enclosing wall 12 is supported within the annular ringclamping dogs 14, 14a and 146, etc., with which the ring is provided.

As thus constructed the rings 13, 13a and 13b constitute a universalmounting or support between the barge 10 and the tubular g enclosingwall 12, permitting the latter to be suspended from the former after thefashion of a plumb bob, substantially unaffected by rolling or pitchingmotion of the barge.

The extremities of each section of tubing 12 35 are provided withoutwardl extending annular flanges 15, to permit 0 the sections beingsecured together by any suitable fastening means, such for example as bythe bolts shown passing through the flanges. In order to facilitate thehandling of the tubular section 12, cranes or derricks 16 and 17 areprovided upon the bar 10, and serve to lift and place the sections 0tubing 12, end

to end to be fastened together and then to lower the tubular enclosingwall 12 through the opening in the barge into the water beneath.

The sections of tubing 12 may be constructed of any'suitable materialand are of such glmbal mounting comprising 85 13 by means of 75 meanssuch for example as the paddle wheel 18, together with a suitable meansfor rotating the same such for example as the electric motor 19, thestator member of which is secured to the tubing 12 by struts or braces20 which ma be formed integrally with the wall of the tu ing or may besecured thereto by suitable fastening means.

Additional motors and liquid impelling means spaced from each other bysuitable intervals may be secured to intermediate sections of thetubular enclosing wall, as illustrated by the motor 21 and impeller 22suported within the tube section 12?). The numher of paddle wheels andelectric driving motors will, of course, depend upon the depth of thepoint beneath the surface at which operations are to be carried on.

The construction of the electric motors for driving the paddle wheelsand the manner in which they are supported will best be understood byreference to Fig. 2. As shown in that figure the motor is in alternatingcurrent induction motor and comprises a stator frame 23 upon thepunchings of which a distributed polyphase winding 24 is wound, and arotor member 25 which maybe of any suitable type such for example as thewound rotor, or the more rugged squirrel cage type. The rotor windingis'fixedly mounted on a hollow shaft 26, which also carries the liquidimpeller 18.

The rotor member 25 of the motor is rotatably mounted with respect tothe stator member 23 by upper and lower annular bearing blocks 27 and 28supported by upper and lower stator end shields 29 and 30 respectively.Any suitable fastening means such as the bolts shown in the drawings maybe employed to secure the end shields 29 and 30 tightly to the statorframes. The annular bearing blocks 27 and 28 may be made of any suitablematerial, but are preferably made of lignumvitae, which is a very hardwood particularly adapted for bearings located in water, such forexample as the packing bearings for ship propeller shafts.

It will be seen from the above description that the stator frame 23, endshields 29 and 30, lignumvitae bearings 27 and 28 and hollow shaft forma water tight casing for the stator and rotor windings and punchings ofthe motor, and it is desirable, though not absolutely essential, thatwater should be excluded from the current carrying windings of themotor.

As an added precaution against the ossible harmful effects due to thepossibihty of water gaining access to the rotor and stator windings, themotor is preferably designed as a low voltage high current motor.

In order that alternating current of a suitably low potential may beavailable for supplying the motor, a step down transformer comprising aprimary winding 31 and a secondary winding 32 is provided in a waterAlternatmgcurrent of a suitable voltage.

and frequency is supplied to the primary winding 31 of the transformerfrom a suitable source of supply such for example as the alternatingcurrent generator 36 located on the barge 10. -Alternator 36 may bedriven by an suitable driving means such for example as the electricmotor 37 supplied from the shipsmains (not shown).

The terminals of generator 36 are connected to the primary winding 31 ofthe transformer by means of a cable 37. As shown in the drawings, eachsection of the tubular enclosing wall 12 is provided with a section ofsubmarine cable 37a suitably secured to the wall 12. As the sections 12of the tubing are assembled, connections are made between the cablesections by suitably insulated connectors 38.

One of the supporting arms 20 is hollowed and communlcates with thesurrounding liquid by means of an orifice 39 provided in the tubularenclosing wall 12. Water for lubricating the bearings is thus admittedthrough the orifice 39 and through tube 20 to the interior of the motorwhence it is distributed to upper and lower lignumvitae bearing blocks27 and 28 by means of tubular passages 40 and 41 respectively, providedwithin the stator frame. After passing through the bearing blocks, thewater is discharged from parts 42 and 43 located in the bottom shaft 26and in the lower end shield 30 respectively.

The blades of paddle wheel 18 may be welded or otherwise suitablysecured to hollow shaft 26. As shown they extend radially outward fromthe shaft toward the tubular enclosing wall 12; sufiicient clearancebeing left between their extremities and wall 12 to permit of theirbeing rotated with respect thereto.

IJU

suitable intervals along the interior of tubu-- lar wall 12.

The supports 20 for the motors, as well as the supports 45, 46, etc.,are preferably stream lined to present the least possible resistance torotary motion of water within the tube.

The lowermost section of the tube may be provided with a loose fittingcollar member 47 of a diameter slightly larger than the tubular member12, and is loosely secured thereto by a suitable fastening means such asthe chains 48 and 49. The collar 47 serves as an extension of tubularmember 12, and is particularly advantageous in extending the tubing 12into engagement with surfaces of submerged bodies lying at an angle withthe horizontal. It is also advantageous for maintaining a continuousenclosing wall between the surface and the point of operations despitevertical or slight swinging motion of the tubular enclosing wall, aswill be the case when the surface is rough.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3,v all of theelements are the same as those already described with respect to Figs. 1and 2 with the exception that the lowermost section of the tubularenclosing wall 12 and the ladder 44 are curved. The motor 19 in thissection is preferably supported so that the liquid impeller 18 is in thestraight part of the-tube just above the point Where the curve begins.In this modification of the invention, no particular degree of curvatureis required but a gradual curve is more to be preferred than a sharpcurve.

lVith the above understanding of the parts and elements comprisin anapparatus suitable for the practice of my invention, the operation andmethod will readily be understood.

The barge 10 may be towed to the point where salvaging or othersub-surface operations are to be carried on, for example to the pointabove a sunken vessel, such as the submarine 50 shown in the drawings,and there anchored against movement by winds and tides and againstrotary movement, by suitable anchoring means, (not shown).

The clamping dogs 14, 14a, 146, etc., will then be raised to permit ofthe lowermost section of tubular enclosing wall 12 containing drivingmotor 19 and impeller 18 to be lowered through the centrally disposedopening 11 in the barge 10 by either of the cranes 16, 17 The clampingdogs may then be set to clamp the section of the tubular member whileanother section is raised by the cranes and placed upon the first orlowermost section and fastened thereto by bolts passing through thecircumferential flanges 15. Electrical connections are then completedbetween the cable sections 37a by connectors38. hen this stepiscompleted the clamping dogs are again raised and both sections of thetube are lowered a distance equal to a tube section and the clampingdogs are again set to retain the assembled sections while anothersection is fastened to those already assembled.

In this manner the tube is ass iuubled section by section until enoughsections have been assembled to afford communication from the surface tothe point of operations beneath the surface, e. g., the submarine 50.\Vhen the tube is finally assembled, the electrical connections betweenthe motors 19, 21, etc., are completed and the motor generator set 37,36 is started up to supply alternating cur rent to the primary windings33 of the transformers and thence to the stator windings 24 of themotors. The motors 19, 21, etc., will then rotate at a speed dependentupon the frequency of the current supplied to its stator and the liquidimpellers, i. e., the paddle wheels 18, 22, etc., mounted upon theshafts of the motors will likewise be rotated the result of which willbe to set the water within the enclosing wall 12 into rotation. At a.critical speed, a clean vortex will be fori'ned therein, communicatingfrom the surface to a point beneath the lowermost liquid impeller.

Any suitable means may be employed for varying the speeds of the motors19, 21 but this will preferably be accomplished by vary ing the speed ofthe motor 37 which drives the supply generator 36, by any suitablemethods of speed control as is well understood in the electrical art. Inthis manner, the driving motors may be run at the speed most suitablefor maintaining a perfect vortex between the surface of the liquid bodyand the point 'of operations. In practice it has been found withoutbeing subjected to thechilling tem- I perature of the sea water. 7

The collar 47 might be secured to the submarine, and after suitablecommunication having been made with the interior of the submarine, as bydrilling, air might be supplied to the interior thereof either from theair column within the vortex, or from a hose communicating with a sourceof compressed air on the barge.

By fitting the collar 47 over the conning tower of the submarine or overany suitable aperture provided for the purpose, and then creating avortex within the tubular enclosing wall in the above described manner,the conning tower hatch or aperture may be opened and the crew permittedto escape without be ing subjected to the enormous hydraulic pressuresexisting at the depth at which the submarine is submerged.

Operations on the side of a submerged body may be carried on byemploying the curved section of Fig. 3 as the lowermost section of thetubular enclosing wall 12.

Although the inventlon has been explained in connection with a tubularenclosing wall extending from the surface to the point of operation, Iwould have it understood, that atubular enclosing wall is not essential,since a vortex may be created by simply rotating,

an impeller at the point of operations. The

. vortex formed .in open water is, however, not

I tions,

' to be prospected.

so easily controlled as'the vortex formed within a smooth tubularenclosing wall.

I would have it understood that my invention is not limited to thesalvaging of submarines or the rescue of entrapped-crews, sinceobviously any sub-surface operation may be carried out by this method.It is also to be understood that this invention is not limited tosub-surface operations initiated at and carried on from the surfacesince obviously similar operations may be initiated at and carried onfrom the point of operations, for example from. a sunken or" submergedsubmarine.

Although, sions of the patent statutes, I have described my invention asembodied in concrete form, I would have it understood that the inventionis not limited thereto, since modificaalterations and equivalentarrangements will readily suggest themselves to skilled workers in theart without departing from the true spirit of the invention or from thescope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. The method of prospecting below the surface of a-body of a liquidthat.,..co1 nprises.

creating a vortex in the liquid in the region 2. The method of salvagingbodies submerged beneath the surface of a liquid that includes settingthe liquid above the body into rotation, andin maintaining the "speed ofrotation at a value suflicient to eausea vortex to be formed in saidliquid.

3. The method of providing air to animate beings entrapped beneath thesurface of a liquid body, that includes rotating the liquid above thepoint of entrapment at a speed sufficient to cause a vortex to be formedtherein.

4. The method of sub-sea prospecting that consists in setting the waterinto rotation at a point beneath the surface of the sea, and inthereafter maintaining the water in rotation at a speed ofrotationsuflicient to cause an opening to be formed therein between saidpoint and the surface.

5. The method of providing access to the surface of an hydraulic bodyfrom points said body communicating between the surface an d a pointbeneath the surface.

7. The method of admitting air to a point beneath the surface of a bodyof water that includes placing an enclosing c linder in said body ofwater in a substantial y u right 0- sition, and in rotating an impel erwit in said cylinder at a speed suflicient to form an opening in saidbody of water extending irom the surface to a point beneath the surace.

8. A device for ex loring beneath the surface of hydraulic b0 iescomprising an open ended ubular enclosing wall, means for supportingsaid enclosing wall in position to extend from the surface of anhydraulic body to a point beneath the surface, and means supportedwithin said enclosing wall 1 at the lower extremity thereof for rotatingin accordance with the provlv means for supporting said wall in asubstantially uprightposition in an hydraulic body against rotation, aplurality of impellers located at spaced intervals from each otherwithin said tube and supported thereby, and means for rotating saidimpellers at a speed sufficient to cause avortex to be formed in theliquid within said enclosing wall to afford communication between thesurface and a point beneath the,- surface.

' 10. Apparatus for. providing access to points beneath the surface ofhydraulic bodies including in combination, a tubular enclosing wall,means for supporting said enclosing wall against rotation in position toafford communication fromthe surface to apoint beneath the surface, aliquidimpelling means for rotating the liquid within said enclosingwall, and an electric motor comprising a stator secured to saidenclosing wall, and a rotor secured to said mpelhng means for rotatingsaid impelling means, said rotor being provided with an axial opening topermit access to points beneath said motor.

11. Apparatus for providing access between the surface of an hydraulicbody and points beneath the surface comprising an open endedtubularcenclosing wall, means for supporting said wall against rotationin a substantially upright position in an hydraulic body, an electricmotor havin*'g a stator secured to said enclosing wall, a rotor,bearings for said rotor supported by said stator, a liquid impellingmeans secured to saidro tor for setting the liquid enclosed within saidwall in rotation, said rotor being provided with an axially disposedopening to permit communication from one side thereof to the other. y

12. Means for providing communication from the surface of a liquid bodyto a point beneath the surface, comprising in combination a tubularenclosing wall, means for securing said' wall against rotation in asubstantially upright position in said liquid, an alternating currentinduction motor secured to said wall, said motor being provided with ahollow shaft, a liquid impelling means mounted on said shaft, and avariable frequency source of alternating current for supplying saidmotor.

1.3. An hydraulic exploring device comprising in combination, a tubularmember consisting of a plurality of sections, means for securing saidmember in a desired position in an hydraulic body, a plurality ofelectric motors disposed at intervals along the inner wall of saidmember, means for securing the stators of said motors to said mem her, aliquid impelling means secured to the rotor of each of said motors, asource of power for said motors, and means for adjusting the s eed ofrotation of said motors, the

. rotors 0 said motors being provided with axially disposed passages topermit communication therethrough.

14. A device for providing communication from the surface of anhydraulic body to a submerged body comprising an open ended tubularmember, a liquid impelling means supported at the lower extremity ofsaid member, a variable speed electric motor supported within saidmember for rotating said impelling means at a speed sufiicient to createa vortex in the liquid within said tube, and a collarmember loosely"surrounding the lower extremity of said member and attached thereto, toprovide for relative movement between said collar and said tubularmember.

In witness whereof,- I have hereunto set my hand this 22d da of Jumx1929.

ED ARD ADLER.

